Postal-note



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. AQGURLBY.

POSTAL NOTE. Y No. 508,601. Patented Nov. 14,1893.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. E.A.GUB,LEY.

n POSTAL NOTE. No. 508,691. Patented Nov. 14, 189s.

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` carrying a series of symbols of value.

g UNrrnD STATES Afr-ENT Fries.

VEDWIN A. ORLEY, or o1v1AI-1A,NEBRASKA, AssIGNon or ONE-HALF To SIDNEY v. LOWnLnOr.` BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

POSTAL-NOTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,601, dated November 14,1893. Application iiled October 6, 1883. Serial No.l 108,845. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN A. CURLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the countyof Douglas, in the State of Nebraska, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Postal-Notes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear., and exact description of the same, reference being had to theA accompanying drawlngs.

My invention relates to an instrument of monetary or numerical value, and has for its Object the productionof a safe and simple medium for the representation and exchange ot' values, applicable to manykinds of busi` ness, but especially adapted' to the use of the Post Omoo Department in thetransmission of sums of money through the mails.

The invention consists in a compound instrument expressing upon its face a xed and predetermined value but which is susceptible of division into two parts on a medial strip This compound instrument is so arranged that the entire value may be transmitted either in the entire original instrument, or by severing one part in such wise that all of the symbols of Value shall remain upon vthe part to be transmitted. If less than the entire value of the instrument is desired for transmission, the symbols of value upon it may be so separated in dividing it into two parts as to express by the sum of the 'symbols upon the one part the amount to be transmitted, which said part is then of and in itself a complete instrument, not requiring any writing, stamping, or other marking, by the postmaster or other seller in order to its completeness as an expression or representative of value. The other part is thereupon an instrument complete in itselt' for the certain purposes for which it may be used. Its value is denoted by the sum of the symbols remaining upon it, that being complementary to the value oi' the iirst part or first derivative instrumcnt,in such Wise that the sum of the values of the two parts, or two derivative instruments is the value of the original compound instrument as supplied by the department, or Otherwise, to the seller of the derivative instrument sold. A space is provided upon the upper part of the original instrument for a written message and under proper regulations for issue it becomes a comwritten message. Fig. 4, is a front View of the part A, of an instrument, in whicb,while this part is complete in itself, the words imprinted thereon limit its use to exchange from the postmaster tothe department. Figs. 5 and 6, give face views ot the two separated Fig. 3, is a back view/of a similar instrument, showing the space provided for a parts of a combined postal card and compound instrument of value with a constant quantity imprinted in the body ot the part A.

In the drawings A, represents the upper part of the compoundinstrument and A', the lower" part, while C, represents the medial strip common to both parts, Yupon which is imprinted a series of symbols of value, whose sum, either alone or added to a constant quantity i'n the body of the part A, is the value of the original instrument.

In the i drawings the compound note is shown to be of the value of five dollars and the sum ot' the symbols Ot' value is of equal amount. It is to be noted that the symbols on the medial strip are in a single row extending along a medial space common to the two parts of the compound instrument. No other arrangement of the symbols is practically and conveniently available for the purposes of this invention because not otherwise can the compound instrument take its value from the sum of the symbols of value upon it, and the separated parts as complete instru,- ments take their .values in like manner, and

so as to equal the original value of the undivided instrument. In the row ot consecu- IOO postal exchange. The wording on the face of the instrument may be varied so asto contain more or less matter of detail as desired. The wording which I have placed upon the note shown in Fig. l, is self explanatory.

The note in Fig. 2, is shown as severed from its corresponding part or complementary note, on the medial strip, so as to retain the iigures 50, 25, and IO. It is therefore of the value of eighty five cents; and its complementary note is of the value of four dollars and fteen cents ($4.15.)

Fig. 3, shows the back or reverse side of a postal note, bearing a space for a message so limited, that the message may be severed from the note by the postmaster, and returned to the payee, without destroying that portion of the combined postal card and note which indicates its monetary value.

Fig. 4, shows the part A, of an original postal note, so severed from the part A, that the several symbols representing twelve cents remain thereon; and it is therefore of the value of twelve cents to the postmaster in settling with the department. It is thus complete in itself', being equal to an independent credit, a stamp, or a coin for that amount. While it indicates that its corresponding note and part of the original compound instrument is of the value of four dollars and eightyeight cents, it is quite unnecessary to refer to that fact, or in any way follow the original instrument in making settlement. It is enough that the postmaster has had original compound instruments, whether of one or of several denominations, aggregating a certain value, and that he returns original or derivative instruments or both, aggregating a certain other less Value, and that he is therefore indebted to the department for the difference to be duly accounted for. Practically therefore the system of audit becomes a simple accounting for so much money or such a value of stamps.

Fig. 5, is a face view of a combined postal money order and postal card varied somewhat in its general arrangements from Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4, and having the constant quantity of four dollars imprintedl in the body of the instrument.

Fig. 6, corresponds to Fig. 5, as a part of the same original compound instrument, severed from Fig. 5, on the medial strip C. In this case the medial strip C, of the original compound instrument, represents only fractions up to the total sum of one dollar. The original compound note is of the value of four dollars imprinted in the body of the upper part thereof, and of one dollar denoted bythe sum of the symbolsin the medial strip; the whole valuethereforebeing five dollars,of which four dollars are indivisible, and one dollar is divisible to a single cent. As represented by these two figures, the original compound instrument has been so divided on the medial strip that the upper part A, which is combined with the postal card is of the value of four dollars and eighty eight cents, and the lower part A is of the value of twelve cents to the postmaster in settling with the Department.

It will be seen from the drawings,th at taking the dollar as the unit of value, I have adopted an irregular binary system of notation substantiallythe same as used in ourcoins andcurrency, and found in practice to be the most convenientin making change. The only variation from the values of separate coins or currency notes, is my use of a symbol for four cents, corresponding to a common postage stamp, and which I use by preference to make up the final amount of fifteen cents, by a convenient and complete arithmetical progression, thereby saving the necessity for repetition or the use of additional symbols to make all possible combinations of cents up to one dollar. This application of the binary system of coin equivalents, as distinguished from other systems, binary or otherwise, is important, because it is not only simple in itself, but in the computation of any value required, 1t gives great facility as the result of long familiarity of all people with these precise values, and their ordinary combinations in making change. But while I consider important and even essential, this application of coin values as described, for the purpose of making the value of a postal note or other instrument, I do not confine myself exclusively to its use, but I can at the cost of more or lessinconvenience,and sometimesgainingtherebysome advantages, modify my invention by using in the medial strip in the place of these values, such other values as in the aggregate will make up any convenient, certain, and fixed' sum,and which may be divided into two parts so that the one part shall aggregate any required value not exceeding the whole sum, and

the other part shall aggregate such value as, added to the first part, shall make up the total value of the original undivided medial strip.

In severing ther parts of the original compound note on the medial strip so that a portion of the symbols shall remain attached to each part, that margin of the derivative instrument which carries the symbols will necessarily be somewhat irregular. 1 deem this an advantage in preventing any tampering with the notes. But if it be desired to strengthen and straighten the irregular margin it may be done by folding the margin over and gumming it down; 'for which purpose the medial strip may be gummed and creased before issue to the postmaster. Or the symbols may be printed on the back of the strip so that it may be turned over on a narrow space left on the face of the note. Or the margin, or the whole note may be reinforced by a strip or card gummed on the back thereof.

A modified form of my invention as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, consists in imprinting upon one part A of the compound instrument a constant xed quantity, and in placing upon the medial strip a series of symbols representing fractional portionsAof vsome 4given unit or number. Each part of this instrument when it is divided upon the medialV strip'represents a value equal to its constant quantity or quantities if any, plus the sum` be fixed upon for the constant in the bodyV of the instrument, and any convenient series of fractions may be used for the medial strip, so that a series of compound `notes may be provided of different denominations as may be convenient. Obviously also the value of the medial'strip may be extended-in convenient multiples of one dollar or other unit, so as to give any amount ordinarily required in postal or other exchange without the, use of' a constant quantity in the body of either part of the compound note.

In applying the invention to railway tickets the medial strip will express in symbols of money value an amount not less than the kvalue of transportation over the whole distance coveredby the ticket. In this case the medial 'strip will bear the same relation to the compound instrument andto the derivative instruments resulting from its division as in the case of the postal note where one part of the note is returned to the department. The railway company will charge the agent with the valueof each ticket or compound instrument of value, and credit him with the amount expressed` on the part which he returns, and with the money turned in, which together should equal the value of the original ticket. Or the railway ticket may have a constant quantity or value imprinted thereon and be variable, or divisible to a certain amount only, or in respect to the value of fares between certain stations at either or both ends of the route over which it is available. Y

The postal notes are to be engraved Yand printed with such alterations, limitations or additions to the matter shown in the figures as may be prescribed by law or'the regulations of thejDepartrnent. They are vthen to be issued to all postmasters or to any of them,

in such quan-tities and amounts as may be deemed proper or desirable, as actual money of exchange for the uses of the Post Ofiice Department. A hundred rfive dollar postal notes, for instance, are delivered to a-certain postmaster and charged to him as five hundred dollars. The postmaster may then sell the notes as desired. 1f a person desires a note for ve dollars there is no important reason why he should not receive the whole compound note complete for that sum, for in that case if. the note were made as shown in Fig. 1, or as indicated by reference tol the part A, and the part C, of Fig. 1 and to the' part IA', of Fig. 4, the value of Iive dollars required would take all of the medial strip and leave the part A', of no monetary or numerical value. It would of course be proof that the postmaster had possessed a five dollar note, but anything in the nature of a stub properly so called is of no practical value in my system of postal exchange any more than such a device would be useful as separated from a live dollar currency note, a sheet of stamps or a package of coin.

The blanks in my postal notes as shown, are for such limitations as the purchaser of the note'may desire to make and they should remain entirely in his power. If the purchaser desires to make the note payable to a particular person, he may do so, but if for any reason he desires tohave the note payable to bearer then it may be transmitted under cover without iilling in the blanks when it will be so payable.

bearer only at'the post office in that place. When fractions are required the postmaster will properlydivide the notes on the' medial strips, passing to his customers the parts for which they have duly paid, but leaving those parts` unmarked and unaltered. By this means I give the purchaser of the instrument a control over its final disposition which he of right ought to have, and I limit the work of issue and the responsibility therefor to 'a minimum.

While the manner, time, and place of accounting for notes received, and the details of audit must necessarily depend upon the regulations to be adopted by the issuing department, everything in relation thereto may -be very simple, requiring no more tracing, or

following out 'of the original compound notes, or of the derivative notes sold by the' postmaster, or of comparing them or any of them with the items of his account, than in the case of currency, stamps or coin. This feature alone will save about one 'fourth of the force otherwise required in the auditors division of the Post Office Department.

my postal note is the fact that its sale need not be limited to special offices or officers, but the notes may be sold like stamps at the stamp windows of a large office, or redeemed of exchange or value, which compound instru--` ment is divisible into two separate instruments on a medial strip of symbols of cumulative values, and of which after such division 0f the original compound instrument those. symbols of value remaining attached to.

either derivative instrument are added to- Or if the place wherek payable only yis filled in it will be payable toV But a muchmore important consideration in regard to IOC IIO'

gether in the value of said instrument; each being complete in itself and complementary to the other, and both together equal to the original compound instrument; all substantially as described.

2. A postal note or instrument of monetary or numerical value bearing on its face a series of symbols of value on the irregular binary system of our several coins and notes of currency, said note being divisible into two parts one of which shall have a value accord ing to the aggregate of the values expressed thereon andthe other of which shall carry the symbols to complete the amount of the original instrument, substantially as described.

3. A compound postal note or instrument of any predetermined and fixed monetary or numerical value, bearing in a medial strip a series of value-denoting symbols which are added together in the total value of the instrument, which instrument is divisible on the medial strip so that the Whole or any number of the symbols thereof shall remain upon either part, all such remaining symbols being added together in the value of that part as a separate and complete instrument all substantially as described.

4. A compound postal note or instrument of monetary or numerical value predetermined and fixed, having a part of its value expressed as a constant quantity in one of the parts which will become separate instruments upon a proper division,but having the remainder ot its value expressed in a medial strip by the sum of a series of symbols of Value thereon, which series is so divisible in separating the two parts of the original compound instrument on the medial strip, that any or all of the symbols shall remain upon, and be counted in the value of either part which thereupon is a separateand complete instrument, yet complementary to the other, and both derivative instruments together equal in value to the original instrument all substantially as described.

EDWIN A.4 CURLEY.

Witnesses:

THOMAS H. PEASE, EDWARD O. BROWN. 

